The Sound of Spring Training: How Music Became a Baseball Staple
The pervasive presence of music at Major League Baseball spring training facilities has become commonplace over the last decade, transforming the atmosphere of backfields and weight rooms. What began as an experiment inspired by Pete Carroll’s Seattle Seahawks has evolved into a widespread practice, impacting player energy and focus.
From Football Fields to the Diamond
In 2015, San Diego Padres General Manager A.J. Preller visited the Seattle Seahawks training camp seeking innovative ideas to implement within his historically overlooked baseball club. He immediately noticed the constant soundtrack permeating the Seahawks’ facilities – on the practice field, in the locker room, and even during team meetings. The Seahawks even employed DJs for meetings.
“The music was in your face,” Preller said. “It was loud, it was fun, it was fast.”
Pete Carroll, the Seahawks’ famously energetic coach, explained that music fosters a positive mood and, crucially, helps athletes acclimate to distractions, enhancing their ability to focus amidst external stimuli. Carroll believed that training with music prepared players to maintain concentration during the chaos of a game. He extended this philosophy to other sports, inspiring Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to incorporate music into NBA practices.
A Quiet Backfield No More
Inspired by his visit, Preller introduced music to Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona in September 2015. After an initial test during the Arizona Instructional League, where turning the music off resulted in a “dead” and quiet atmosphere, the Padres committed to installing sound systems throughout their spring training facilities by 2016. The change didn’t travel unnoticed by neighboring teams.
Jerry Dipoto, president of baseball operations for the Seattle Mariners, whose team shares a spring complex with the Padres, remarked, “If Pete Carroll did it, it’s just another one of the amazing things that Pete Carroll has given the world of sports.”
The Science Behind the Sound
The impact of music extends beyond mere mood enhancement. Research suggests a tangible effect on athletic performance. Padres pitcher Matt Waldron believes music “amps you up without knowing it.” A 2021 review published in the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology found that listening to music can positively influence perceived exertion, increase motivation, and ultimately improve performance outcomes. https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/11/123
A Cultural Shift
Today, music is ubiquitous in spring training. Clubs have invested in permanent sound systems and strategically placed speakers. Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander noted that the absence of music now feels unusual. “People just went about their work,” Neander said. “And the sounds of fans, the sounds of the ball, the throws … that was your soundtrack, and it was all right. But now, when you’re in a park at any level and it’s quiet, it feels a little off.”
Padres manager Craig Stammen emphasizes the energy boost music provides. “Music gives you energy, gives you an attitude of a smile on your face,” Stammen said. “Why not utilize it to produce your day a little bit better?”
Even players are contributing to the soundtrack. Padres left-hander Jackson Wolf, a music technology minor in college, has taken to DJing for his teammates, further integrating music into the team’s culture.
A Lasting Legacy
While A.J. Preller doesn’t claim to have initiated the trend, his early adoption of music at the Padres’ spring training facility appears to have been a catalyst. What began as an observation during a visit to the Seahawks has become an integral part of the spring training experience for many Major League Baseball teams, transforming the atmosphere and potentially enhancing player performance.